Renting as a student

I'm still in the US and have contacted various agents regarding apartments I'm interested in.  I have gotten responses when I've asked for photos or when I ask whether a property is available.

However, when I express further interest and ask other questions I get no reply.  I have asked what documents are required, since I have seen online that some renting agencies/landlords ask for a guarantor form if you are a student (not working?).

It is frustrating because the guarantor apparently has to be someone who owns property, and the guarantor I would use lives in the USA, so of course once I'm in the UK it wouldn't be so easy to get my guarantor's signature.

I was thinking of writing the form myself and have my guarantor sign it and take it with me, also there are many guarantor forms from various agencies online so I might just print out one of those.


Anyone else having this problem?  Or can anyone give me insight regarding guarantor requirements.  Thanks.  I will be emailing the university as well.

I'm totally not sure about this but the agencies here told me that the gaurantor has to be living in the uk and should be earning a minimum income per year (it varies based on how much the rent costs).

Have you tried looking into student accommodation? Not neccessairly dorms but my university for example has a non profit agency helping students get flats with no garauntors required. In fact, I've never been asked for any kind of paperwork other than proving who I was, that I'm a student, and I had to sign the contract.

Thank you GibbyGab, I think I won't bother with the guarantor form then, it didn't make much sense to me with the guarantor being outside the UK.

I had my father sign as my guarantor and he's in the US.   

Thanks...did you take a letter with you? Or did he fax or email it?

My estate agent faxed him the form, he signed it and faxed it back.  The hard part was having to pay cash for my deposit because I had no bank account.  Getting 1700GBP via Western Union sucked.

Thanks, I will take a letter, the university said the same thing.

Western union fees...ouch!

I didn't need a guarantor but I was told I had to have an address in the UK, that they could return my deposit (or send some form) to after I moved out, and it was a legal thing for my protection.  I didn't really get it, but luckily I have a distant relative whose addy I used.

can anyone else comment on this process...especially those who are students living in the UK already. Do you always need a guarantor? Cant i find places where a deposit good enough? How they expect international students to just move to a foreign country, get a flat and open a bank account...dont seem very international friendly!!

How they expect international students to just move to a foreign country, get a flat and open a bank account...dont seem very international friendly!!

The university should be able to help you out with all of this - I remember that they had an entire presentation on how to open a bank account at the Welcome Week for my uni (I was helping out as a mentor).

A lot of international students do live in university-owned housing when they arrive though as it is easier to sort out the accommodation in advance that way. My university had entire buildings (both off and on campus) reserved for the international students and they (and the first-year undergrads) all got priority over the non-first year UK students.

I told my landlord agent that we had to prove x amount to get the visa, and that was good enough for them.  I also offered a cash deposit straight away, and she seemed surprised that I could just produce that amount on the spot.  Maybe offering cash and acting rich helps?

I told my landlord agent that we had to prove x amount to get the visa, and that was good enough for them.  I also offered a cash deposit straight away, and she seemed surprised that I could just produce that amount on the spot.  Maybe offering cash and acting rich helps?

Lunasera, did you go through a letting agent or a private landlord?

I found the property on rightmove.co.uk and the person who showed it to me was a letting agency.  For me having a dog was my biggest hurdle, but once I found a place willing to take my dog, the rest fell into place easily. 

I found the property on rightmove.co.uk and the person who showed it to me was a letting agency.  For me having a dog was my biggest hurdle, but once I found a place willing to take my dog, the rest fell into place easily. 

i like that idea, i may just show my loan letters and bank balance to prove i have way more then enough funds. I just dont want to have to pay 6 months worth of rent at once though, i wouldnt feel comfortable doing that.

Should be interesting, hope i get lucky and dont have to deal with the guarantor bit.